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L.A. auto show: Notes from the floor

November 16, 2011

A hybrid is not part of the Cadillac XTS lineup--at least not yet.

The Los Angeles auto show kicked off in typical fashion on Wednesday, with car companies rolling out the familiar lineups of convertibles and green machines tailored for the Southern California audience.

Yes, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Jaguar XKR-S are sinister, and the Honda Fit EV will be eco-friendly. But you knew that. So here are a few nuggets we learned after a day of prowling the floor that you won't hear other places.

-- The Cadillac XTS won't get a hybrid model--yet. Caddy revealed its latest flagship sedan at the show, and noticeably absent was any mention of a hybrid model. The XTS Platinum concept from the 2010 Detroit auto show had a high-output V6 working with a hybrid component. General Motors North American president Mark Reuss was coy when asked directly about this.

Reading between the lines, we wouldn't be shocked if the XTS gets some sort of hybrid setup.

-- No matter how it ends, 2011 will have been a good year for Hyundai. The company beat its all-time U.S. sales record on Oct. 31 and is on pace for sales of 215,000 units this year. The company has sold about 180,000 vehicles so far this year, said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America's chief executive.

-- Chevrolet highlighted its heritage and kept its 100th-birthday party rolling, bringing an enthusiast who was reunited with his 1965 Impala SS after decades to the show. Herb Younger sold the car when he was starting a family, and his sons searched for five years to get it back for him. Chevy even rolled out the Impala onto the stage.

In other Chevy news, vice president Chris Perry said Tonight Show host Jay Leno has logged more than 10,000 miles in his Volt--without having to fill up. The late-night comedian has survived by recharging the batteries.

-- Land Rover showed another version of the DC100 concept that could preview the next Defender. This version simply was a different color (gray at the Frankfurt motor show versus sky blue in SoCal). The Defender is being designed for global markets and should arrive sometime around 2015.

Will it come to the United States? Land Rover brass are blunt--they want to bring it here. The question comes down to how it fits in with fuel-economy regulations that are set to get considerably stricter.

"Our ambition is to create a Defender for the global market," said John Edwards, Land Rover brand director.

-- Infiniti is planning to sell an all-electric sedan in 2014, it was disclosed at the show. The brand is also planning a high-performance sports car that will bow at the Geneva motor show.

-- Porsche will add a second major facility in North America, in California. Located about 20 miles from Los Angeles, the 53-acre site will include a test track and handling course. It joins Porsche's North American base in Atlanta, which also is receiving upgrades. Porsche is investing $100 million between the two locations. Ground-breaking is expected next year in California.

-- How much would you pay for a Honda Fit? While the conventionally powered variant is billed as affordable transportation, the Fit EV will have a sticker price of $36,625 and will lease for about $399 per month. Honda expects to make about 1,100 copies of the car over the next three years.

-- Quote of the day: "This is a car that arouses without a need for prescription." --Fiat chief Olivier Francois, at the reveal of the higher-performance 500 Abarth model